Alaska Supreme Court confirms: ‘Hoverboard dentist’ is banned from dentistry in Alaska

The Alaska Supreme Court is seen connected Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, successful Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld nan state’s determination to suspend nan dental licence of a man who became internationally infamous aft extracting a bony while riding a hoverboard.

Former dentist Seth Lookhart has been convicted of galore crimes, including Medicaid fraud and standard-of-care violations that almost killed 2 patients. 

Sentenced to 20 years successful situation pinch 8 suspended, he sought to clasp his dental licence aft it was revoked by nan Board of Dental Examiners.

RELATED: Victim testifies she was ‘livid’ Anchorage dentist pulled her bony while connected hoverboard

When nan revocation was upheld by a little court, Lookhart appealed to nan Alaska Supreme Court, which ruled Friday.  

Lookhart is besides appealing nan criminal convictions that resulted successful his situation sentence; that appeal remains pending in nan Alaska Court of Appeals. 

In Friday’s decision, nan Supreme Court said nan authorities dental committee did not break authorities rule aliases maltreatment its discretion erstwhile it revoked Lookhart’s licence aft a “fraudulent strategy of staggering proportions that jeopardized nan wellness and information of his patients.”

Among nan court’s 5 justices is Jennifer Henderson, nan judge who heard the first lawsuit against Lookhart successful 2017.

That lawsuit was nan consequence of an extended investigation by nan state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, nan Office of Inspector General, nan FBI, and nan Drug Enforcement Administration. 

In nan consequent trial, prosecutors demonstrated that Lookhart improperly utilized IV sedation — which was reimbursed by Medicaid astatine higher rates than section anesthesia — and extracted teeth much often than was necessary.

After Lookhart was convicted successful criminal court, nan authorities Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing sought to portion him of his license.

An administrative rule judge concluded that Lookhart had shown an “astonishing scope of misconduct” and agreed pinch nan division’s conclusion that if Lookhart’s lawsuit didn’t warrant revocation, “no early lawsuit will.”

The authorities dental committee adopted nan judge’s proposal that Lookhart’s licence beryllium revoked, but Lookhart appealed to Superior Court, arguing that nan board’s determination didn’t travel anterior precedent.

Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner upheld nan revocation, concluding that “no Alaska lawsuit is factually comparable to nan sheer standard of malfeasance here,” and that moreover though location was nary anterior precedent, nan board’s determination represented a due usage of discretion nether authorities law.

Lookhart’s lawyer based on to nan Alaska Supreme Court that authorities rule narrowly constrains nan board, and that without precedent, it wasn’t capable to act.

Writing connected behalf of nan court, Justice Jude Pate disagreed.

While authorities rule obliges nan committee to beryllium consistent, “there is simply nary anterior lawsuit comparable to nan scope of Lookhart’s egregious dishonesty and misconduct,” he wrote. “The committee did not maltreatment its discretion successful concluding that revoking Lookhart’s licence was an due sanction.”

Attorney Chester Gilmore, representing Lookhart, did not return a telephone telephone aliases email seeking remark connected Friday.

Attorney General Treg Taylor, speaking connected behalf of authorities prosecutors, said successful a written statement, “This lawsuit progressive nan astir wide misconduct of immoderate licensing matter successful caller memory, if not ever, successful Alaska. We’re pleased that Dr. Lookhart will nary longer beryllium capable to utilization susceptible patients for his individual gain.”